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Intersexism

(also: dyadism, endosexism, juxtasexism, perisexism)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Intersexism is the descrimination that is faced by intersex people. It is the belief that being dyadic is normal, correct, the default, etc., and that intersex people are unnatural, wrong, diseased/deformed, insignificant, etc.

Intersex issues are often thrown around during discussions of transgender rights by people with little understanding of the topic. Unfortunately, this is by design. intersex people are often dismissed as impossible anomolies. They are ostrichized and medicalized by society for being born. Though it is perfectly natural for someone to be born with an intersex variation, society at large unfortunately treats those who are intersex as though they should not matter simply for being different.

This page will be discussing things that may be upsetting or triggering for some readers. Remember that real allies don't use slurs. Please consult the alphabet button meny at the top of the page for additional information, or click on underlined words or phrases to be hyperlinked to relevant definitions or pages.

General Information

Intersexism often manifests from the moment an intersex child is born. Many intersex people are subject to infant genital mutilation (IGM) and are treated as though their very existence must be altered to become acceptable. Many intersex people are forced to undergo hormonal treatments as well. Many people grow up without even realizing that they are intersex, and are simply forced into the category of male or female without consent.

Many intersex people are deined proper roles in society. They are faced with harassment, bullying, and fetishization. The fetishization of intersex people often comes from gross misunderstandings of what intersex even means.

Social

Throughout their lives, many intersex people will experience social mistreatment due to their intersexuality.

Bullying and abuse are common experiences that many intersex people relate to. Strangers may ask invasive questions upon learning that someone is intersex, such as asking what their genitals look like or what their sex life is like. Many intersex people have experienced fetishization, with some being treated as sex objects rather than people. people may pressure intersex individuals into changing their bodies to conform with perisex standards, such as by shaving body hair or binding one's chest.

Additionally, intersex people are often subjected to scrutiny surrounding their intersexuality, and many have experiences of being told they are not truly intersex or are lying about their intersex status. It is a common but false belief that being intersex is astronomically rare, and this belief is often a driving force behind the denial of intersex people's identities.

Social intersexism doesn't stop inside the queer community either. Often, conversations about queernees and the queer community ignore and erase intersex people. Many people both inside and outside the queer community are unaware that intersexuality is a queer identity to begin with, leading to the silencing and discrediting of intersex voices in the community. Some intersex people are also told they cannot identify with certain queer terms because of their intersex experiences or even just because they are intersex to begin with.

Medical Abuse

It is not uncommon for intersex infants to undergo surgeries or hormonal treatments to appear as though they are not intersex. These procedures are often unnecessary, harmful, and overall traumatizing. Cosmetic appearance is prioritized over functionality or patient satisfaction.

Due to the general desire of doctors to hide 'less noticable' intersex conditions or alter babies with 'more noticable' intersex conditions; many intersex people grow up not even realizing that they are intersex. Some don't find out until adulthood, and others never find out. Some intersex conditions don't present themselves in a noticable way until puberty or adulthood.

It can be hard to determing how many people are, in fact, intersex; due to underdiagnosis and medical abuse.

5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency/5-ARD/Pseudovaginal Perineoscrotal Hypospadias/PPSH/Steroid 5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency

Surgical genital mutilation is often performed on children with 5-ARD based on whether or not the parents prefer to raise their child as male or female. These surgical procedures are cosmetic and of no benefit to the intersex child in question.

Click to jump to the page explaining 5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency

Click to jump to external resources regarding 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency.

More will be added. Please be patient

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